Maternal and child health - visit 3 - four week visit

This four week visit is your third key age and stage check with a child health nurse. These nurses work in partnership with families to support the health, learning and development of babies and young children.

What happens at the four week visit#

The visit gives you and your nurse a chance to talk about how your baby and your family are going. It is also a good time to check that your baby’s newborn hearing screen has been completed. If you keep a baby health record book, you can look for the hearing screen result there.

Common topics at this visit include:

• safe sleeping
• feeding your baby, including breastfeeding and bottle feeding
• the health and wellbeing of the whole family
• how play helps learning and development
• immunisations
• safety
• where to find trusted parenting information
• registering your baby’s birth

Remember, you and your nurse can also talk about any other issues or concerns that come up.

What is my baby doing at this age and stage?#

Even at this very young age, your baby is learning. Everything they see, hear and touch helps their brain grow and develop.

At around this age, your baby might be:

• watching familiar faces while being fed or talked to
• moving their lips and tongue when you talk to them
• lifting their head briefly and turning it from side to side when on their tummy
• shutting their eyes against bright light
• responding to your voice

What to tell your nurse#

Let the nurse know if your baby is:

• not moving both arms and legs
• not making any sounds
• not beginning to watch faces
• not responding to bright lights

Activity ideas for this age and stage#

Try some of these ideas to help your baby learn and develop:

• share stories and read aloud
• copy their sounds and expressions
• give them some tummy time on your lap, chest or on a rolled up towel
• sing songs and rhymes to them
• look into their eyes, smile and chat with them

How often should I visit?#

You will usually be asked to see your child health nurse at a series of key ages and stages across your child’s early years. These checks generally follow your baby’s growth and development from the first weeks after birth through to the years before starting school.

Many services also offer:

• open consultation sessions
• some after-hours appointments

If you need an interpreter or have hearing or speech needs, ask your service about the support that is available to help you take part in your visit.

Key points#

• The four week visit covers safe sleeping, feeding, family wellbeing, play, immunisations, safety and registering your baby’s birth.
• Check that your baby’s newborn hearing screen has been completed.
• Tell your nurse if your baby is not moving both arms and legs, not making sounds, not watching faces or not responding to bright lights.
• Simple everyday activities like reading, tummy time, singing and talking help your baby learn.

Where to get help#